Trump picks Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as running mate

Pence adds some political backbone to Trump's presidential bid, which hasn't exactly been the most disciplined campaign.

All signs yesterday pointed to billionaire Donald Trump selecting Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate - which would mark an unusually safe pick for the notoriously disruptive White House hopeful.

While aides to Trump said he has not finalized his selection of a running mate, Republicans familiar with the process predicted it would be Pence.

Pence has always been mentioned as a finalist on Trump's shortlist alongside Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) and former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

Pence is now up for re-election as governor of IN, and has until noon of Friday to withdraw his candidacy.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, according to CNN, called Pence and offered him the slot, which Pence accepted. "We wonder exactly how this is going to play out, nobody seems to know".

"A governor with administrative experience, been in Washington, proven he is a conservative in action and words, I think Mike Pence will bring a lot to the table", said Kaufmann. Prior to that, he served as Indiana's Secretary of State from 2003-2010.

He's a former talk show host and Ted Cruz supporter who leveled a few harsh criticisms Trump's way over the course of this campaign season. He was also president of a conservative think tank in the state, the Indiana Policy Review Foundation. When he took office, the state's jobless rate was at 20 percent, per CNBC; it has now fallen to 5 percent.

He describes himself as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order. Nationally, Pence is perhaps best known for signing into law a mean-spirited "religious liberty" bill targeting LGBTQ people-then revising the measure after its discriminatory goal sparked coast-to-coast outcry. Trump has promised to make an official announcement Friday, and a campaign spokesman tweeted a message saying Trump hadn't made up his mind just yet. Joined by daughter Ivanka and sons Donald Jr and Eric Trump, Mr Trump also had breakfast with Mr Pence and his wife, Karen, on Wednesday at the governor's residence in Indianapolis. And he splits with Trump by supporting a major trade pact. "I think it's a good move as far as the geographics go", referencing his Midwestern and Rust Belt appeal.